engleski

Social Entrepreneurship as Sustainable Rural Development Supporting Model: The Case Study of Croatian Mountain Rural Area Lika

Main purpose of the article is to present social entrepreneurship as sustainable rural development supporting model that could bring development dimensions of Lika region in balance. Article design is connected to the case study that uses desk method and statistic data analysis in the first part. Second part is created by using qualitative research in two segments. First segment of the research are semi-structural interviews (the participants were local social actors involved in Likas current socio-economical reality (2013). Main topic of the research was the economic dimension of sustainable development. Second segment of the research was focus group with participants of social entrepreneurship in Lika (2015) – civil society association. Main topic was social entrepreneurship. Research results are showing social actors awareness about sustainable development possibilities (e.g. preserved natural resources) and also awareness about alternative economy that could lead to enhanced total life conditions. Social entrepreneurship is economical model that social actors see as part of alternative economy opportunity (e.g. “to incorporate ideas of people in the economy and to adapt economy to people”). Additional push up factor in social entrepreneurship development possibilities is connected to the civil society (Association Prospero) as they are working on new project (eco-social farms and grouping of farms) connected to the inventiveness, social value and social capital that are foundation for social entrepreneurship further development. This also could lead to the neo- endogenous development possibilities revelation, especially because Lika region still does not have concrete development strategy. Originality of the paper is in its theme field (theoretical construct) which is talking about social entrepreneurships as sustainable rural development supporting model in particular rural area that is one of the most neglected in Croatia. This area is ideal platform for creating and implementing carefully planned developing models as sustainable rural and neo-endogenous development are. Thus, practical implications of the paper are connected to the dissemination of the social entrepreneurship idea as supporting model that could help in achieving initial stadium of sustainable rural and neo- endogenous development models in Croatian rural area in general. In addition, both mountain counties in Croatia (Lika-senj and Primorsko- goranska) have to bring new development strategy. This paper could be useful as background for strategies conceptualization.

civil society; neo-endogenous development; social capital; social entrepreneurship; sustainable development; rural area

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